Oct 20, IOM, Exposure to mold/toxins greatest health concern- New Orleans

[Guest guest]

" Meanwhile, on Oct. 20 public health officials said at an _Institute of

Medicine (IOM)_ (http://www.iom.edu/) conference that, currently, the greatest

potential threat to human health in the wake of the hurricanes may be exposure

to mold. They also expressed concerns about the toxicity of the sediments

coating formerly flooded areas, especially in New Orleans. "

<PUBDT>Octob<PUB

Volume 83, Number 44 p. 8

Hurricane Aftermath

<TI>Checking For To

No tainted runoff found in Gulf; concerns focus on sediments left by floods

_<AU>Cheryl H_ (http://pubs.acs.org/cen/staff/chbio.html)

Gulf of mexico waters thus far appear free of chemical contaminants that

could have been washed from the land by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, state and

federal scientists report.

A. Murawski, a senior scientist for the _National Oceanic &

Atmospheric Administration_ (http://www.nasa.gov/) , says federal and state

agencies

are sampling Gulf waters to determine whether the two hurricanes swept

pollutants from land into coastal waters. Water samples analyzed thus far

contain no

toxic chemicals attributable to runoff following the hurricanes, he says.

As part of their analyses, scientists are checking coastal waters from

eastern Texas to Alabama for the presence of brominated flame retardants, which

Murawski says is an indicator of “acute urban runoff.†Thus far, scientists

have detected none of these brominated compounds in Gulf waters, he says. It is

likely, therefore, that the low levels of pesticides and polychlorinated

biphenyls found in the water did not come from the storm surges, Murawski adds.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 20 public health officials said at an _Institute of

Medicine (IOM)_ (http://www.iom.edu/) conference that, currently, the greatest

potential threat to human health in the wake of the hurricanes may be exposure

to mold. They also expressed concerns about the toxicity of the sediments

coating formerly flooded areas, especially in New Orleans.

Among IOM conference speakers was J. Lioy, a professor at _ Wood Jo

hnson Medical School_ (http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/) , Piscataway, N.J., who has

extensively studied health effects stemming from the World Trade Center

attacks, including ailments linked to dusts that coated building interiors.

Noting

that sediments dry out and can end up as airborne dust, Lioy urged officials

to analyze the sediments as soon as possible.

“Know what’s in there,†he said, so returning residents and workers doing

demolition and cleanup can be told how to protect themselves appropriately.

Chemical & Engineering News

ISSN 0009-2347

Copyright © 2005